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N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 4<br />
Law and Order: A/Sergeant Melinda Edwards<br />
Explains What It Is Like To Be Gay, In The Police Force,<br />
And The State’s Coordinator Of The GLLO Project.<br />
We Also Find Out What Adam Pickvance Has To Say<br />
On The Issue Of Human Rights<br />
And HowThey Affect Our Community.<br />
Pulse: We Find Out What An independent<br />
DJ Thinks About The Current Scene Play Lists.<br />
TV Review: Vanessa Wagner And<br />
Her New Foxtel Show – What Not.<br />
The Fashion Bible: The Fashion Police<br />
Hit The Catwalks And We Look Forward<br />
To This Year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.<br />
PLUS: Kylie’s New Album, Camp Capers,<br />
Dr. Paul, Show Your Q, Your Story, DT’s Drag<br />
Cocktail Party And More.
<strong>November</strong> 20<strong>04</strong><br />
Issue 8<br />
Inside<br />
Publisher<br />
Netkey Pty Ltd<br />
Managing Partner<br />
Brett Hayhoe<br />
<strong>04</strong>22 632 690<br />
brett.hayhoe@qmagazine.com.au<br />
Editorial<br />
editor@qmagazine.com.au<br />
Sales and Marketing<br />
sales@qmagazine.com.au<br />
Desktop Publisher/Layout<br />
Daniel Donnelly<br />
Contributing Writers<br />
Andrew Shaw, Dr Paul Spano, Tim Hunter,<br />
Morag and Tiffany, Michael Adler, Fiona<br />
Sproles, DJ Funk Doctor, Alan Mayberry<br />
Photo Credits<br />
Mick Vovers (Feast)<br />
Chris Barlow (Vanessan Review)<br />
Stephen A’Court (Contents) with<br />
model from the New Zealand School<br />
of Dance<br />
Q Photographer<br />
D.J. (David) Glasheen<br />
Printing<br />
Printgraphics<br />
Distribution<br />
distribution@qmagazine.com.au<br />
ISSN 1328-9357<br />
QMAGAZINE<br />
PO Box 7479, St Kilda Road,<br />
Melbourne Victoria 80<strong>04</strong><br />
info@qmagazine.com.au<br />
www.qmagazine.com.au<br />
LEGAL DISCLAIMER<br />
Q <strong>Magazine</strong> is a free publication and can<br />
only be distributed through selected<br />
outlets. Views expressed in Q <strong>Magazine</strong> do<br />
not necessarily represent the opinions of<br />
the editors or publishers. No responsibility<br />
is accepted by Q <strong>Magazine</strong> for accuracy of<br />
the advertisements and information within<br />
the publication. All material forwarded to<br />
the magazine will be assumed intented for<br />
publication and unless clearly labelled “Not<br />
for publication”. Reproduction in whole or<br />
in part without the expressed written<br />
permission of the publisher is prohibited.<br />
Netkey Pty Ltd<br />
ACN 078 939 054<br />
ABN 43 356 502 122<br />
T/A Q <strong>Magazine</strong> ©20<strong>04</strong><br />
06: Get<br />
07: CD Review<br />
08: Feature<br />
11: Q Christmas<br />
12: Pulse<br />
13: Community<br />
14: Dr Paul<br />
16: Centrefold<br />
18: Fashion<br />
20: Camp Capers<br />
22: One Night Stand<br />
24: Film Review<br />
26: Out in Melbourne<br />
29: TV Review<br />
30: People
Q Comment<br />
<strong>November</strong> is the month for (among many other events)<br />
Melbourne’s GLBTi community’s answer to the Logies –<br />
The Rainbow Awards. The glitz, the glamour, the bitching,<br />
the fighting…but most importantly – the voting.<br />
Q C o m m e n t<br />
The category we have an entry in is Brett Hayhoe –<br />
QUIET ACHIEVER.<br />
Remember that voting is done via the website and that<br />
you can only vote once – you can not go back in once<br />
you have voted – so make it count.<br />
We, at Q, would like to wish all nominees the best, and<br />
trust the best person / venue / event wins in each of their<br />
nominated categories.<br />
In conclusion, I would like to bring your attention to the<br />
Spring Season of Opera Australia. A superb line up as<br />
usual is on offer at Melbourne’s magnificent State Theatre<br />
(in my opinion, the best Theatre of it’s kind in the country)<br />
– The Merry Widow, Manon, and Baroque Masterworks<br />
(see pics this page). This is going to be a fantastic season<br />
of Opera once again in Melbourne, so get your tickets<br />
today from the State Theatre box office.<br />
• The picture on this page featuring the Honourable<br />
Deputy Premier of Victoria, was taken by Qmagazine<br />
at the launch of the Rainbow Awards on the steps of<br />
Victoria’s Parliament House.<br />
• I was fortunate enough to be invited by Festival<br />
Mushroom Records to an intimate concert by Olivia Newton-John<br />
to celebrate the release of her “Indigo” album<br />
(pictured). Olivia sang half a dozen tracks from the album<br />
on the night – and I can sincerely tell you that it is one of<br />
the finest albums I have heard in a long time, and Olivia<br />
is singing as beautifully as ever.<br />
4
The 20<strong>04</strong> Feast Festival is a far cry from its humble beginnings<br />
8 years ago.Adelaide’s festival of Queer Culture has<br />
carved a niche on the nationalqueer festival calander cementing<br />
its position as a significant event among the queer<br />
community specifically and the arts community generally.<br />
Now in their second year as Feast’s Artistic Director, Fanny<br />
Jacobson (originally from South Africa) is well and truly on<br />
top of the job, a fact reflected in this year’s slick and vibrant<br />
program.<br />
Feast <strong>04</strong> takes off in a big way on Nov 5th with a huge<br />
PRIDE MARCH through the city streets, culminating in a<br />
FREE FOR ALL OPENING NIGHT PARTY at Elder Park. AD<br />
Fanny and GM Rohan Shearn have put their own stamp on<br />
opening night and revellers can expect a spectacular opening<br />
ceremony featuring film, fireworks and full program of<br />
live performances and festival tit bits. Full bar service and<br />
munchies will be available along with a full range of Feast<br />
merchandise.<br />
Feast <strong>04</strong> is packed with special events, Performing Arts, Films, Forums, Visual Arts, Literature,<br />
Community Events and Outings you’ll want to sink your teeth into!<br />
F e a s t<br />
It wouldn’t be Feast without a feast and this years FEAST FEAST on Nov 14th with the fabulous<br />
Harris sisters of Nediz Food, is sure to thrill.<br />
Q Mag Feast advert 14/9/<strong>04</strong> 5:10 PM Page 1<br />
Check out Feast on line at www.feast.org.au or contact the Feast office on 08 82312155.<br />
Principal Sponsor<br />
5–28<br />
<strong>November</strong> 20<strong>04</strong><br />
www.feast.org.au<br />
Adelaide<br />
Lesbian & Gay<br />
Cultural Festival
G e t<br />
6<br />
Get Free*<br />
Your Story<br />
Late last year, Jamie’s<br />
Kitchen screened on<br />
Channel 10 to rave<br />
reviews, and now Kaleidoscope<br />
Film and<br />
DVD have supplied<br />
Q<strong>Magazine</strong> 5 Double<br />
DVD copies of Jamie’s<br />
Kitchen – the complete<br />
Television Series. Email<br />
getfree@qmagazine.<br />
com.au with “Naked<br />
Chef” in the subject<br />
line for your chance to<br />
win.<br />
VICON is a brand NEW product on the market, which is really causing a buzz. Fresh from<br />
taking out the new inventors award in Geneva and 1st prize at the INPEX Awards in the<br />
USA, VICON, the unique vibrating condom is the ultimate in safe, fun and kinky satisfaction<br />
for both partners. Discreetly packaged in a slick looking box, this product has sold so well<br />
overseas it outsold the leading condom brands! You can find out more and even buy them<br />
at www.aipdistributors.com.au We have 5 packs to giveaway to lucky Q Readers – so email<br />
getfree@qmagazine.com.au with “condom” in the subject line today for your chance to be<br />
one of the first to try them out.<br />
A young man named Tex sent this<br />
in to me (and it was too good<br />
not to print) - obviously after the<br />
Liberal Party’s incredible win in the<br />
recent Federal Election.<br />
Australians all let us rejoice,<br />
For we have tasted greed;<br />
Our interest rates mean more to us,<br />
Than mere humanity;<br />
Our land abounds with credit cards<br />
And John Howard took us there;<br />
With thanks to Festival<br />
Mushroom Records,<br />
we are truly blessed to<br />
have 3 copies of Kylie’s<br />
Double ‘ULTIMATE<br />
KYLIE’ CD sets to give<br />
a way. With “Our Kylie”<br />
in the subject line, email<br />
getfree@qmagazine.<br />
com.au for your chance<br />
to win this special<br />
addition to your Kylie<br />
Collection.<br />
*Conditions: All Qmagazine<br />
competitions are open to<br />
everyone, except those that<br />
specifically state you must be<br />
over 18 to enter. Competitions<br />
close on the final day of each<br />
calendar month with all prizes<br />
being drawn at 5pm the<br />
following day at Apartment<br />
3, 15 – 17 Charnwood Road,<br />
St. Kilda 3182. Names and<br />
addresses of people winning<br />
prizes valued at or over $250<br />
ONLY will be published in the<br />
following issue of Qmagazine.<br />
All monthly winners are notified<br />
by email.<br />
Don’t stop to count as your debts mount,<br />
Advance Australia fair!<br />
Don’t stop to count as your debts mount,<br />
Advance Australia fair!<br />
While refugees from terror sail’d,<br />
To trace wide oceans o’er,<br />
To Iraq with Little John we went,<br />
To start a bloody war.<br />
The sick, the old have all been sold,<br />
Our children’s future care;<br />
They’re all worth naught, so rise and shout,<br />
Advance Australia fair!<br />
They’re all worth nowt, so rise and shout,<br />
Advance Australia fair!
Music<br />
[KYLIE MINOGUE]<br />
KYLIE MINOGUE (or “our Kylie” as we often say)<br />
- one of the top selling female artists in the world, is<br />
set to release her double CD, ‘ULTIMATE KYLIE’ - the<br />
only comprehensive collection of her greatest hits from<br />
1987 to the present day, through Festival Mushroom<br />
Records on NOVEMBER 14, 20<strong>04</strong>.<br />
‘ULTIMATE KYLIE’ features;<br />
31 INTERNATIONAL TOP 40 HITS<br />
7 UK NO 1 SINGLES<br />
9 AUSTRALIAN #1 SINGLES<br />
8 AUSTRALIAN TOP 5 SINGLES<br />
2 AUSTRALIAN TOP 10 SINGLES<br />
6 AUSTRALIAN TOP 20 SINGLES<br />
25 UK TOP 10 SINGLES<br />
The two CD set, the only one to feature each of her<br />
31 hit singles, also includes two brand new tracks, one<br />
of which, ‘I BELIEVE IN YOU’, Kylie wrote and recorded<br />
with Jake Shears and Babydaddy from the SCISSOR<br />
SISTERS. This stunning collaboration will be released<br />
as Kylie’s new single on NOVEMBER 28, 20<strong>04</strong>.<br />
Of this consummate collection of pop classics, Kylie says;<br />
M u s i c R e v i e w s<br />
“Since my first hit, I can’t believe how quickly time has passed. This collection is very dear to me and holds<br />
a lifetime of memories. There is nothing like time to give you a sense of perspective and I hope the listener<br />
gets as much enjoyment out of these tracks as I do. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to experiment<br />
throughout the years and that my fans have embraced the need in me to try new approaches. I am just as<br />
excited about the new tracks featured here as I am about all the others on the record. At this point in my<br />
career, I am happy to celebrate the past and look forward to the future.”<br />
Don’t forget to watch out for it in your favourite record store from <strong>November</strong> 14 - released Nationally by<br />
the fabby folk at Festival Mushroom Records. See our GetFree page for your chance to win a copy (limited<br />
number on offer).<br />
Out of the Blue is not only Delta Goodrem’s highlyanticipated<br />
new single, it is also her very personal statement on the welldocumented<br />
most challenging year of her life. “A new beginning, a new<br />
chapter of my life, started the day when I thought it could be my last…” A<br />
gorgeous track- which we are used to from Delta, Out of the Blue is out now<br />
– with her album Mistaken Identity in stores from <strong>November</strong> 7 from Sony<br />
Music.<br />
Killing Heidi – Calm Down The second single release from their<br />
amazing self-titled album, Killing Heidi is back bigger and better than ever. Calm<br />
Down is a song about the roller-coaster feelings one goes though when they experience<br />
a teen crush - a subject that transcends sexuality. Calm Down is legendary<br />
Killing Heidi – brilliant stuff as always. Out now at all the best music stores through<br />
Sony Music.
F e a t u r e<br />
8<br />
The Woman In Blue<br />
With Perth’s gay police allowed<br />
to march in the Pride<br />
Parade over there this year, it<br />
seems great strides are being<br />
made in the relationship between<br />
police and the gay community<br />
across Australia. OK,<br />
so they weren’t allowed to wear<br />
uniform like our Victorian police<br />
officers, but it’s a step in<br />
the right direction.<br />
To check on the situation<br />
back home, ANDREW SHAW<br />
recently spoke to Acting Sergeant<br />
Melinda Edwards, the 37-<br />
year-old lesbian police officer<br />
who in February 2000 became<br />
this state’s first Gay and Lesbian<br />
Liaison Officer.<br />
Does the Perth Pride police participation<br />
signal a national change in the relationship between<br />
police and the gay community?<br />
I think it does. I think you’ll find that virtually<br />
every state or territory now has some form of<br />
gay and lesbian liaison; or if they don’t they’re<br />
instigating one. For example South Australia<br />
have sought advice from us.<br />
You became the state coordinator of a number<br />
of GLLOs, both full and part-time, in April last<br />
year. How has that affected your role?<br />
My victim contact liaison is minimized now.<br />
My role is to coordinate the function of the resources.<br />
I guess my jobs more strategic.<br />
What’s the most common duty you performed<br />
as a GLLO?<br />
Being the initial point of contact with Victoria<br />
Police would be the most common aspect. It<br />
would be centred around domestic violence, or<br />
prejudice-motivated crimes .<br />
Is domestic violence a major problem in the<br />
gay community?<br />
It’s interesting the way the community has started<br />
to acknowledge same-sex domestic violence. I remember<br />
when I started in 2000 there were no programs<br />
available for the gay and lesbian community.<br />
Most domestic violence services are geared<br />
towards heterosexual women being the victim and<br />
heterosexual men being the perpetrators.
That’s certainly changed. The Victorian AIDS<br />
Council counselling services are now offering<br />
a behaviour change program called ‘Revisioning’<br />
directly to gay men who are violent towards<br />
each other.<br />
Do police record gay-related crime on their<br />
LEAP reporting system?<br />
Yes, in July 2001 we started recording prejudice-motivated<br />
crimes, which includes a section<br />
on sexual gender identity homophobia. It<br />
also includes other prejudice-motivated crimes<br />
such as religion and race — and road rage as<br />
well!<br />
What is a gay prejudice-motivated incident?<br />
If any person — it could be the victim, it<br />
could be a witness, it could be the police officer<br />
— believes that the incident was motivated by<br />
prejudice, then we record it as such.<br />
When you started in 2000, what were your expectations<br />
and why were you chosen?<br />
When I was first approached, I must admit<br />
my first reaction was: And why would I want to<br />
do that, and what’s it going to do for me and my<br />
career? But after thinking about it for a while, I<br />
felt it was something I could give back to the<br />
community.<br />
What did you think of the Tasty raid documentary<br />
on TV recently? (In 1994, police raided the<br />
Tasty nightclub, popular with gays and lesbians,<br />
and strip searched everyone.)<br />
Certainly, parts of it were very disturbing.<br />
It was disturbing that anything like that could<br />
happen, not only in Victoria, but anywhere in<br />
Australia.<br />
How has Christine Nixon’s appointment as<br />
Police Commissioner affected the organization’s<br />
attitudes?<br />
She brings some terrific leadership abilities<br />
to the job. Her marching in Pride March in 2002<br />
was a clear statement not only to the police, but<br />
to the gay community and the mainstream community.<br />
Can we talk about beats and the way the<br />
police patrol them? It’s a grey area, isn’t it, because<br />
exposing yourself in a public place is an<br />
offence?<br />
If we’re alerted to a situation — it may be there<br />
have been a number of assaults in the area or<br />
there may have been a number of residential<br />
complaints… It can even be environmental factors<br />
like used condoms and lube packets, or<br />
it could be happening in an area where native<br />
grasses are being destroyed.<br />
The way we look at it is in partnership with the<br />
community. We would have the officer at the local<br />
police station involved, the GLLO, and from<br />
the community we would have the AIDS Council<br />
involved and the local city council.<br />
Can I suggest that many men who use beats<br />
are not part of the community and may not be<br />
getting these messages?<br />
Most definitely. We acknowledge that vast<br />
majority of beat users probably don’t recognize<br />
themselves as being part of the gay community.<br />
That’s why if there have been assaults in<br />
the area, we would acknowledge that not only<br />
in the gay press, but in local media as well, the<br />
local Leader newspaper.<br />
It’s about recognizing that there are a lot of<br />
different uses for the area, but that men who<br />
use it for sexual contact have a right to actually<br />
be there. It’s only when they do commit an<br />
offense, like having sex in a public place that<br />
is witnessed by someone else, that that other<br />
aspect comes into play.<br />
Why did you decide to become a police<br />
officer?<br />
When you look at my family, we’re pretty<br />
much all in service position. My father was an<br />
ambulance officer and I think the thing he gave<br />
all of us was a sense of compassion.<br />
When I was 12 I wanted to be an open heart<br />
surgeon, I remember seeing a documentary.<br />
Then as I came to realize the amount of study<br />
I would need to do to achieve that, I was looking<br />
at doing something in phys ed. But policing<br />
was always there in the background. I’ve been<br />
in the organization since 1988 now, I was 20<br />
when I joined.<br />
Were you always ‘out’ at work?<br />
No, I certainly wasn’t. I grew up in a country<br />
town and being gay or lesbian didn’t exist. My<br />
HSC was in 1985 and that was about the time<br />
the HIV crisis was becoming public. I can recall<br />
homophobic comments from my father at the<br />
time regarding that. At the same time, lesbianism<br />
didn’t exist for me. I was probably about 23<br />
by the time I recognized what it was.<br />
In about 1995 I transferred to St Kilda. After<br />
two or three weeks of being there — and this is<br />
where I came out to the organization — I walked<br />
into the muster room and put my hand up and<br />
said, ‘Yes, I am — and that’s your problem, not<br />
mine.’ It was probably the best thing I ever did.<br />
It became a non-issue after that.<br />
Will ever tire of being “the lesbian police officer”?<br />
It will remain with me, but it’s only one part of<br />
my career. I have credibility in the organization<br />
as a police officer, and being a lesbian is only<br />
part of that.<br />
Will I always be the Gay and Lesbian Liaison<br />
Coordinator? Probably not, there are other<br />
things I would like to do within the organization.<br />
If you need to contact a GLLO you<br />
can call Melinda Edwards on 03 9247<br />
6944 and she will forward your inquiry<br />
to the appropriate officer. (GL-<br />
LOs do not investigate, they assist<br />
investigating officers and victims of<br />
prejudice-related crime.)<br />
9<br />
F e a t u r e
A r t s R e v i e w<br />
Arts Review<br />
The streets are alive with<br />
the sound of muuuusiccc…<br />
yes, the Melbourne International<br />
Arts Festival landed,<br />
along with that studdly yodelling<br />
boy in blue britches<br />
that had been placed in<br />
every nook, alley and major<br />
billboard in town.<br />
10<br />
It was with great vigour and excitement<br />
that I waited for the festival to land upon us.<br />
I had told my beloved that we would be seeing<br />
a myriad of shows, a plethora of performances<br />
and an awesome amount of art. What<br />
would be her contribution to this extravaganza?<br />
Extreme Influenza. Yes, she shared<br />
her demonic lurgy with me, and it knocked<br />
me for six on my one weekend of hedonistic<br />
torpour. Bless her soul.<br />
I was determined though, and I managed<br />
to see a few things (albeit, they were all free<br />
since we cancelled the tickets to the shows<br />
we were booked into, for fear of death by<br />
stoning from the cough intolerant crowd).<br />
The Gordon Assumption: The description<br />
for this art installation in Gordon Reserve<br />
(Spring St) stated that we would hear<br />
“human voice(s) sourced from everyday<br />
contexts” springing from the subterranean<br />
female loo. Not the case. The CD had a<br />
scratch on it, or at least that’s the only explanation<br />
I could find for the incessant banging<br />
sound I heard. The only human voices were<br />
those of the disappointed audience who had<br />
trudged their way up a hill to a dysfunctional<br />
dunny. Thumbs down on this one!<br />
The Diary Project: This piece of performance<br />
art is quite unlike anything else I’ve<br />
experienced. In response to the success<br />
of their Interior Sites Project, Renato Cuocolo<br />
and Roberta Bosetti, a married couple,<br />
invited us into their temporary home in the<br />
George Adams Gallery.<br />
As I sat upon the floor, and the remaining<br />
audience scattered themselves around<br />
the kitchen table, upon the sofa and on the<br />
study chairs, Roberta sat upon her bed and<br />
commenced an unnervingly intimate session<br />
of memory recall with Renato. The memories<br />
were guided by extracts from a diary<br />
they had kept in the past year.<br />
Whilst it took a few moments to get over<br />
the sense of invading their privacy, both artists<br />
ensured that we felt entirely welcome into<br />
their world. A mesmerising and memorable<br />
immersion indeed.<br />
Shelter: This art installation sat before<br />
the doors of the Vic Art Gallery. It’s a Tram<br />
stop…really! The bonus of this standard<br />
urban installation however, is that it was catered<br />
towards our homeless.<br />
The standard bench was constructed so<br />
that it could be used as a private bed (it<br />
worked, I tried) and the glass panels that are<br />
usually adorned with adverts were utilised as<br />
storage for blankets and other necessities.<br />
In the interim they were filled with depictions<br />
of street couture, and other translations<br />
of street life.<br />
Touching in its simplicity, yet striking in its<br />
statement on the community’s disregard for<br />
our less fortunate brothers and sisters. It<br />
certainly made a difference to the homeless<br />
man who sat beneath it in relief on a sweltering<br />
Sunday afternoon.
To Celebrate Christmas 20<strong>04</strong> and your support of<br />
Qmagazine, we have put together a fantastic “hamper”<br />
of goodies for one lucky Q Reader to win.<br />
From Tessa Furniture we have a fabulous Chair – visit www.<br />
tessafurniture.com.au for stockists and a list of their full range<br />
of furniture.<br />
From Peri Homeworks Collection we have Bed Linen from<br />
their quality range. The sheets set is called Peri “Fine Linen” and<br />
consists of 100% Pure Cotton Flat Sheet, Fitted Sheet and 2 x<br />
Pillowcases (white) – go to www.peri.com.au to view their full<br />
range of amazingly wonderful products.<br />
From OUT Video we have the full Queer as Folk Series 1, 2,<br />
and 3 Disc sets (Series 4 showing on SBS from <strong>November</strong> 1 st )<br />
– visit www.out.com.au for the latest releases, competitions and<br />
more.<br />
From Kusco Murphy we have body products – the full range of<br />
products and stockists are listed at www.kuscomurphy.com.au<br />
Simply email competitions@qmagazine.com.au with “Q<br />
Christmas” in the subject line to go into the draw. Q Christmas<br />
is being run over <strong>November</strong> and December – see conditions for<br />
details.<br />
Conditions: The Q Christmas competition is open to<br />
everyone. Competition closes on the 21st of December<br />
20<strong>04</strong> with prize being drawn at 5pm on the following<br />
day at Apartment 3, 15 – 17 Charnwood Road, St. Kilda<br />
3182. The winner’s Christian name and suburb will be<br />
published in the January issue of Qmagazine. Winner<br />
will be notified by email.<br />
Q C h r i s t m a s
P u l s e<br />
1. Benny Benassi - California Dreaming<br />
20<strong>04</strong>(Remix)<br />
This is a great beat to start off the night.<br />
It’s an awesome track to get everyone on the<br />
dance floor. Keep Dreaming people!<br />
Top 10<br />
Pulse<br />
DJ Funkdoctor “Have you had your dose?<br />
6. Tom Neville - JUST F**K (Dirty D mix)<br />
Once you have that boy on the dance<br />
floor, don’t let go! I want to see all you boys<br />
let it rip to this song. One of the high lights of<br />
the year in my books.<br />
2. Boogie Pimps - Somebody To Love<br />
(Remix)<br />
Simply the best song to get everyone in<br />
the mood for love! Start tapping the feet<br />
and before you know it! You’re on the dance<br />
floor.<br />
7. George Michael - flawless (go to the<br />
city)<br />
Well what can I say! I will play him in any<br />
venue! His got to be one of the best Artists<br />
out there that’s keeps bring on the best flawless<br />
music!<br />
12<br />
3. Nick Skitz vs The Choirboys - Run to<br />
paradise<br />
Okay maybe a bit harder then others. But<br />
if you’re looking for that great last song to<br />
end your night, then this is the one! If you<br />
like the oldies in today’s hard dance then<br />
please start here!<br />
4. infiniti - blinded by the light (remix)<br />
One of my fave songs of all times. ABOUT<br />
time someone started to bring back the retro<br />
to life again. Play it at your own risk<br />
5. Mauro M.B.S. pres. Seven Saturdays<br />
DIRTY VINYL PUSHER (Vocal mix)<br />
Funky mix to get down and dirty with on<br />
the dance floor if that person your been waiting<br />
for is just in front of you. Move closer, Get<br />
closer, Get Noticed!<br />
8. Moloko - sing it back (remix)<br />
Okay.. okay.. Everyone I know has a love<br />
for this song and it’s one song that will pick<br />
you up even if you’re already up, this song<br />
will never die in my CD case. Next time you<br />
hear it – I want to hear you sing it back!<br />
9. LMC Vs U2 - TAKE ME TO THE CLOUDS<br />
ABOVE<br />
Awesome song simply because of U2.<br />
Need I say more? *Smiles*<br />
10. Oscar G - Dark Beat (Original Twisted<br />
Club Mix)<br />
Great song! Its won my heart and soul! If<br />
you listen to the words, I think you can refer<br />
to song 6 on the list! Get my point? *Evil<br />
Grin*<br />
Ed: ……and a big Happy Birthday to Shaun from all of us at Qmagazine.
attend. The crucial thing is that all the major venues<br />
and community organisations come together<br />
in harmony under one roof at least one night of<br />
the year to celebrate each other’s successes.<br />
One reporter wrote, ‘the Awards remind me<br />
of a lame Swagman opening; a chance to rub<br />
shoulder with Melbourne’s leading B grade performers<br />
and associated Paparazzi.’ If only Jan<br />
Hillier had a chance to get him by the throat. No<br />
one could be prouder to be the first recipient of<br />
the Lifetime Achievement Award with her Pokey’s<br />
family paying homage to their mentor.<br />
Love them or loathe them The Rainbows are<br />
important and it would be a tragedy if they were<br />
allowed to sink under their own weight. Every year<br />
we say the same, ‘it is an insult that those receiving<br />
the richly deserved awards are drowned out<br />
by the noise from a drunken and restless crowd.’<br />
But the same is said of every Award night, be it<br />
the Logies or the Arias.<br />
C o m m u n i t y<br />
The Pot of Gold at the<br />
End of the Rainbows.<br />
By Alan Mayberry<br />
There are not many people who would not be<br />
honoured to have a Rainbow sitting at home in<br />
pride of place. The trophy carries with it the accolades<br />
of the gay community, and is an honour<br />
that most take seriously.<br />
For over a decade the Rainbows have striven<br />
to gain the respect of the entire community.<br />
Nominations for 20<strong>04</strong> have been finalised in 20<br />
categories. Now is the time for you to do your<br />
bit and VOTE online at www.outreach.com.au/<br />
Rainbows20<strong>04</strong>, to ensure the most worthy are<br />
recipients.<br />
The Rainbows kicked off at the Palace in St<br />
Kilda in 1993. Sydney had always had its glamorous<br />
DIVA Awards and the organisers of the<br />
Fantasy Ball felt it was time for Melbourne to honour<br />
its own celebrities, both those on stage and<br />
the unsung heroes behind the scenes. The big<br />
Awards that first year were taken by Jan Hillier,<br />
Mac Ronan, Phil Carwsell, Dulcie Du Jour and<br />
Kerrie Le Gore.<br />
Deciding on categories never gets easier. The<br />
same criticisms pop up: too many drag Awards;<br />
aren’t there any ‘real’ performers out there doing<br />
things beside miming old songs and doing<br />
dance party routines…but if drag is down-played<br />
no one promotes the night and no one wants to<br />
In its inaugural year journalist Lance Spurr<br />
wrote: ‘Not only was the event sold out, with 600<br />
people filling the place to capacity, but people<br />
really cared who won awards, and clapped and<br />
yelled and stood on their chairs and wiped their<br />
eyes when recognition was given to various old<br />
troupers who had laboured through the 70s and<br />
80s winning law reform or organising parties or<br />
fighting AIDS or founding ALSO or putting on<br />
drag shows. My humble prediction is that the<br />
Rainbows will prosper and grow exponentially.<br />
More, I suspect the inaugural awards will be remembered<br />
as the night when the gay community<br />
in Melbourne stopped being a convenient fiction,<br />
and became a reality.’<br />
Now is your time to ensure his<br />
predictions are maintained…The<br />
Awards will be presented at the<br />
Lido on Tuesday 30 <strong>November</strong>.<br />
13
Dr Paul<br />
D r P a u l<br />
S<br />
In preparation for the race that stops<br />
a nation if your skin needs an instant<br />
boost then go and have a session of<br />
Microdermabrasion for $85. It’s 20 mins<br />
of skin polishing to buff off the old and<br />
expose the new fresh young skin cells<br />
produced in the bottom layers of the<br />
epidermis that are hidden by the build<br />
up of dead skin cells. After this, apply<br />
a high strength Vitamin C serum twice<br />
daily and you will be thanking your<br />
lucky stars you did (hot favorite is the<br />
Ultraceuticals C Serum for $75).<br />
14<br />
Email Dr Paul drpaul@qmagazine.<br />
com.au for questions or with topics<br />
you would like him to cover<br />
Spring Has Sprung<br />
Spring has Sprung, the grass<br />
has “ris”, I wonder where the<br />
sunscreen is! The roses are<br />
budding at Flemington and<br />
the old stallions and mares<br />
will soon be competing for attention<br />
with the young colts<br />
and fillies in the all important<br />
Looking Good Stakes. Hopefully<br />
while out in the pasture<br />
the would-be glammerazzi<br />
have heeded the advice of the<br />
trainers and taken good care of<br />
themselves, but for those who<br />
are making a last minute lunge<br />
towards the post I have a few<br />
best bets.<br />
When the nag you put your hardearned<br />
on passes the post in fourth<br />
place, you may get a little sweaty under<br />
the arms and stain your CM’s shirt,<br />
so you could plan ahead and get some<br />
Dysport (the new Botox) placed in your<br />
armpits and reduce your sweating there<br />
by 80-90% for about one year ! Yes,<br />
one year! No-one will ever know you<br />
are under pressure when number 4 with<br />
the jockey in that lovely cerise silk is<br />
checked at the turn and is still running<br />
the next day.So you are polished, toned<br />
and wont sweat in an iron lung and that<br />
hat you are wearing makes you look<br />
cooler than Montgomery Clift.<br />
Around about the time that Hugs<br />
Dancer and Vinnie Ro are fighting it out<br />
in the big race on the first Tuesday in<br />
<strong>November</strong>, your skin will be getting pink<br />
from the sun and you wont be looking<br />
as good as Makybe Diva who will be finishing<br />
home right over the top of them<br />
to win her second Melbourne Cup. So<br />
don’t forget the sunscreen in the morning<br />
while doing up your tie and having<br />
that champagne breakky.<br />
Good Punting !
S H O W Y O U R Q Congratulations<br />
to Garrie from<br />
Brighton. He has<br />
won our monthly<br />
$100 prize pack and<br />
will now go into the<br />
draw for our $1000<br />
prize pack at the end<br />
of the year.<br />
“Just hanging around reading my Q!”<br />
If you would like to win,<br />
email yourself with any<br />
copy of Q <strong>Magazine</strong> to<br />
competitions@qmagazine.<br />
com.au –<br />
It’s Me It’s You It’s Q.<br />
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<strong>November</strong> 20<strong>04</strong>
We purchase magazines cruising the<br />
pages for who is wearing what, many of<br />
which exist solely on the photographs<br />
of stars sightings and the fashion they<br />
wear. If image really does matter and<br />
we look towards these avenues for guidance,<br />
how can we be sure what is foretold<br />
is correct and non fabricated?<br />
F a s h i o n<br />
18<br />
The Fashion Bible<br />
Q Readers,<br />
We yet again find ourselves at the absolute<br />
heart of fashion... amongst racing<br />
fans, fashionista’s alike attend runway<br />
shows across our great city of Melbourne.<br />
This issue, I hoped to look at the<br />
ultimate style icon; represented by readers<br />
and our community. Instead I found<br />
myself questioning the measurements of<br />
how and why this is important…<br />
Advice is sought from columnists,<br />
shop attendants and store merchants.<br />
We hover around designers as they busily<br />
prepare collections to inspire a purchase<br />
and with eagle eyes we glare as<br />
personalities strut ARIAS and openings<br />
across the globe. With great importance<br />
we pay particular attention, all to remain<br />
in the fashion loop with hopes to revere<br />
success in the areas associated with it.<br />
As society depicts over time stigma<br />
builds and unconsciously we hand power<br />
to the tutors we sought advice. We<br />
allow them to influence our decisions<br />
as ‘mentors’ or ‘fashion dictators’ and<br />
gradually the current fad begins, ready<br />
for us to cunningly mould and applaud<br />
as our own.<br />
Best and worst dressed lists have become<br />
an important part of the magazine<br />
trade and are increasingly available in<br />
newsagents. Best and worst at whose<br />
consensus? The authors, their boss, or<br />
the consumer? How is one to know if the<br />
poll is correct and whether a million people<br />
voted or only a few?<br />
I pondered whether our community<br />
agreed on the fashion press, distributed<br />
in the commercial market and last issue<br />
I asked readers who they thought would<br />
be the ultimate style icon.<br />
Quite simply I received no response!!!<br />
So either you don’t care or are too lazy!<br />
If you don’t care, then I can understand<br />
why the best and worst dressed lists<br />
rarely represent our times correctly!<br />
Without the input from our community<br />
the poll is missing an integral sector of<br />
the polling process. Our community has<br />
always held style and grooming high on<br />
the agenda. Without our Carsons’, the<br />
rest of the world may still be in loincloths!<br />
(Not so bad when you think about it…<br />
then imagine your parents in the same<br />
attire!)<br />
My concern is that without a response<br />
the story must still run. If our community<br />
is not dominant and a fashion poll is presented,<br />
is the outcome biased toward<br />
housewives who have five kids, watch<br />
daytime TV and shop only at Fountain<br />
Gate?<br />
Australian Idol, recently saw one of<br />
the more talented artists voted out of the<br />
show to both the audience and producers<br />
dismay. The public will never know<br />
the technicalities of the polling results,
whether people simply took for granted<br />
the need to vote. Perhaps a greater percentage<br />
of the public really didn’t care<br />
for the performer and never voiced their<br />
opinion in the first place.<br />
So for this story to continue in the original<br />
theme, how could I represent what<br />
the community believes as the ultimate<br />
style icon? I could make it up, but no.<br />
In keeping honest to myself in answering<br />
this question, I sought the help<br />
of friends. I first spoke with models I<br />
recently hired for a show. They came<br />
to me with the classic answers I had<br />
myself, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe,<br />
Audrey Hepburn and other iconic faces<br />
that throughout history always seemed<br />
immortal. But as these models did not all<br />
represent the community I turned to my<br />
fellow peers who made me see things in<br />
a completely different light. There were<br />
no Grace Kelly’s and the like, but the<br />
repeated names of Madonna, Kylie, Sarah<br />
Jessica Parker and the Beckhams’,<br />
among others. In my mind these current<br />
personalities were not my first pick as<br />
style icons, for my mentality was in the<br />
history books.<br />
Although I cannot present a poll on<br />
the ultimate style icon, in privately discussing<br />
this topic it is clear that as generations<br />
pass, icons become those that<br />
remain in the public eye for they are<br />
more relevant to current trend. In many<br />
mediums we associate a style icon. Our<br />
music, sport and hobbies in one way, or<br />
another can influence icons. We consume<br />
ourselves with each, to the extent<br />
that we want to live it as much as possible<br />
and be accepted as its common<br />
ground.<br />
Beyond this article, polls will run and<br />
magazines will sell. Photographers or<br />
‘paparazzi’ will shutter around celebrities<br />
hoping to capture all angles.<br />
The good shots become a top seller<br />
edition, and the bad an even bigger<br />
seller. Perhaps we don’t need validation<br />
when it comes to polling. Perhaps<br />
icons remain personal and rule out the<br />
seriousness of them in the first place.<br />
Maybe we just need to be told or be<br />
the one to tell. I hand out advice when<br />
asked, but always under the provision<br />
that it is taken when relevant. In writing<br />
this article, I am doing just that. Providing<br />
what I believe to be an opinion, it is<br />
what the reader does with it that makes<br />
the difference.<br />
As consumers we will always continue<br />
to make fashion dictators and publications<br />
will profit in the purchase of its<br />
product. That is inevitable.<br />
Believing them and allowing its influence<br />
can only be accomplished through<br />
our own free will. Something we were all<br />
born with. As for the ultimate style icon,<br />
the purpose for this initial article.. Whatever<br />
your thoughts here is mine, walk<br />
over to a mirror and there it will be… in<br />
all of you.<br />
X Michael<br />
F a s h i o n<br />
M<br />
elbourne<br />
419 Spencer Street<br />
Our darlings are currently<br />
undergoing Xtreme<br />
makeovers and will be ...<br />
a) looking for a new venue<br />
b) seeking a partnership into<br />
our brand new season<br />
All enquires, please ring<br />
(03) 9329 5665
Capers<br />
C a m p C a p e r s<br />
It should be no surprise to most of you, that following the excellent nights<br />
out both Tiffany & I had prior to the last issue, that we decided to tone<br />
things down a bit in October. Well… sort of.<br />
As you will have seen from the several photographs in Out in Melbourne<br />
and Q Comment, the annual DT’s cocktail party was yet again, a sell out.<br />
This year however, was a wee bit different. A celebrity judging panel was<br />
introduced to try and work out which lucky girl from the ‘bevel of beauties’<br />
would win the exotic flight for ONE to Woop-Woop, along with the $15.75c<br />
spending money. Joining myself on the panel, (yes, of course I would be<br />
on it dears!), was the lovely Coralline (Tiffanys’ lesbian lover – well… can<br />
you be a lover if you don’t put out?). Anyway, also on the panel was my<br />
good friend Brett the co-owner of It’s my World. Brett was not only kind<br />
enough to bring along the 50c prize packs for the runners’ up, he also<br />
brought along his Young, Cute, supposedly straight nephew. Now, you all<br />
know me. I like my men to be mature, rugged & experienced. And he was,<br />
for an 18yo…..<br />
Now if you DO want rugged, (and Tex McKenzie from the VAC will vouch<br />
for this), there is no more rugged a man on the scene that the lovely Abdul<br />
from the Peel. After almost 13 years as head of security at the Peel, Abdul<br />
decided to hang up his security badge last month, and for a straight Lebanese<br />
‘bloke’ Abdul sure knows how to throw a party! The funniest thing on<br />
the night of course was watching Abdul having to call for security as all of<br />
his female admirers over the years suddenly worked out that they where<br />
not the only ‘special friend’ in the room, and they started to scratch each<br />
others eyes out. It’s just as well Abdul has a very understanding wife who<br />
knows it’s all just a bit of fun…(there Abdul, I’ve got you off the hook!)<br />
20
An alternative<br />
look at a lads,<br />
girls night out<br />
with Tiffany & Morag<br />
On the same weekend, we<br />
also saw the good old Xchange<br />
turn 18, and isn’t it funny when<br />
a venue begins to get older that<br />
most of it’s customers…..Sorry,<br />
that almost sounded like a<br />
bitch, so we won’t even start to<br />
mention the Peel’s 15 th birthday<br />
which is next month. Seriously<br />
though, the Xchange birthdays<br />
have evolved from an hour’s free<br />
piss on a Tuesday, to a massive<br />
WHOLE day event with a queue<br />
up the damn street! Now you<br />
can all blame the Xchange for<br />
this, but frankly, because Tiffany<br />
& I where so keen to help them<br />
celebrate, we actually can’t remember<br />
anything else that happened<br />
last month……..<br />
So, lets talk about this month.<br />
As usual, Tiffany will be whoring<br />
herself around every dance<br />
party known to man (well all the<br />
ones that will let her in for free),<br />
and I’ll be doing my usual and<br />
will be in the royal box at the<br />
Cup. I do prefer Ladies day at<br />
the Oaks myself……. Now listen<br />
pumpkins, Morag has had a very<br />
busy, couple of social nights,<br />
and is now, at this very moment<br />
having a mental blank. Where<br />
was I , oh yes, mental blank……<br />
for those of you who saw me…..<br />
at least YOU’LL forgive me…<br />
Bye xx<br />
21<br />
C a m p C a p e r s
O n e N i g h t S t a n d<br />
22<br />
One Night Stand<br />
A very different One Night Stand this month<br />
– with both guys having partners. That is<br />
why there is no SOPV on the list, and all the<br />
questions about “getting it on” have been<br />
removed. I might add that DJ is our photographer<br />
– I thought, after having to take the<br />
pics for so many One Night Stand’s, it was<br />
his time for a night on the town.<br />
7.00pm<br />
We all meet at the OUTLook<br />
Café on Commercial Road Ed:<br />
Yes there are still Gay venues<br />
on Commercial Road, to spite<br />
the Heterosexual community<br />
trying to buy them all. Warren,<br />
being the perfect host, sits the<br />
boys down, gets them a drink,<br />
and prepares a wonderful antipasta<br />
spread.<br />
DJ’s first impressions: “The<br />
mood was set as we entered,<br />
with Warren promptly serving<br />
me a G & T. The walls adorned with all manner of camp material,<br />
makes it a relaxed, inviting place to chill out”.<br />
CJ adds: “I’m an OUTLook veteran, so I was, as usual, very<br />
happy with the cosy atmosphere”.<br />
8.00pm<br />
The three of us hop in the luxury Barina (still no offers from<br />
VW, Honda or BMW) and head to Jackie O’s.<br />
DJ: “This wasn’t my first time to the institution that is Jackie<br />
O, and it certainly won’t be my last. I love the eclectic mix of<br />
St. Kilda locals and out of town wannabes, and the staff are<br />
always super attentive”.<br />
CJ agreed with the comment about the staff, adding “The<br />
menu was quite trendy for a “pie and chip” boy like me, but I<br />
loved the Salmon Steak”.
Meet CJ:<br />
22, 6’1”, 90kgs, a band manager/tour manager/promoter.<br />
When asked how is ex would describe him, he said “He<br />
would have to remove his mouth from half the penises in<br />
Perth to answer”. CJ enjoys VFL, live bands, skating, and<br />
movies, and lists as his turn-ons – piercings, tattoos, mosh<br />
pits and the like. His bad habits include drinking from the<br />
carton and bar fights (how butch).<br />
10.00pm<br />
Around the corner we go to Pink at the Newmarket Hotel. DJ is quick to comment<br />
about Pink: “The atmosphere is CAMP CAMP CAMP (just like my Nannas<br />
RSL after a spotlight shopping tour). Guy DJ’s music of awesome camp classics<br />
had me singing along the whole time, and the bar staff were more than accommodating<br />
with a Vodka Shirley Temple – just the way I like it”.<br />
CJ, less enthusiastic but appreciative none-the-less: “I’m not a fan of Gay venues,<br />
but the Newmarket is very “Tote” – and really relaxed. I am also not necessarily<br />
into dance music, but Pink really caters excellently to it’s crowd”.<br />
O n e N i g h t S t a n d<br />
In Conclusion:<br />
DJ: “All the venues were fabulous, warm, camp and friendly. Overall, I had a<br />
great night and enjoyed my conversations with CJ”. “It was nice, however, to<br />
head home to my man”.<br />
CJ: “I was really unsure of what to expect, but it was a thoroughly pleasant<br />
evening – food AND company”.<br />
Rating The Venues (DJ / CJ):<br />
OUTLook Cyber Café and Lounge – Commercial Road, South Yarra. 8 / 8<br />
Jackie O – Corner Barkley and Smith Streets, St. Kilda. 9.5 / 9<br />
Pink @ The Newmarket Hotel – Inkerman Street, St. Kilda.9 / 6<br />
If you would like to go on a Qmagazine One Night Stand, simply email your Full Name, Age, and mobile and/or<br />
home phone number to ons@qmagazine.com.au – please include a current photograph. All One Night Stand<br />
participants must be over 18.<br />
Meet DJ:<br />
23, 175 cms, 85 kgs, a Law Student. Described<br />
by his ex as a “Mummies Boy”, he enjoys shopping,<br />
dining out, clubbing and drinking. DJ’s turnons<br />
include smooth buff and blonde boys (mmm),<br />
and lists camp, bitchy, friendly, funny and always<br />
out and about as the way his friends would<br />
describe him.<br />
23
F i l m R e v i e w<br />
DE-LOVELY<br />
Directed by Irwin Winkler<br />
Starring Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan<br />
Price, and plenty more Cole Porter (Kevin Kline) is<br />
something of a legend for gay men. Not only did<br />
he write some great songs and musicals for both<br />
stage and screen, but he was gay too! Well, given<br />
the cleverness of his music and lyrics, how could<br />
he not be? This film is a musical itself (of course)<br />
about his life, his music, and his marriage to Linda<br />
Lee (Ashley Judd).<br />
It wasn’t a conventional marriage by any stretch<br />
of the imagination; she allowed him his gay<br />
encounters, and said he was probably more<br />
interested in men than she was, but they did<br />
love each other and were devoted to each other.<br />
Structured like a rehearsal that an old Porter<br />
is attending, De-Lovely is a rich and indulgent<br />
musical, melancholy without becoming mawkish,<br />
and full of Porter’s songs, sung by the likes of<br />
Robbie Williams, Alanis Morissette, Elvis Costello,<br />
Diana Krall and Natalie Cole. They just don’t write<br />
them like this any more. By Tim Hunter<br />
Film Review
Out In Melbourne<br />
O u t I n M e l b o u r n e<br />
[Laird] Camp Karaoke<br />
Diva Bar<br />
[Petticoat Junction]<br />
Camp Karaoke<br />
Diva Bar<br />
Camp Karaoke<br />
DT’s<br />
Diva Bar<br />
Camp Karaoke<br />
26<br />
Camp Karaoke DT’s Camp Karaoke
Art For AIDS Auctioneers<br />
DT’s<br />
DT’s<br />
DT’s<br />
O u t I n M e l b o u r n e<br />
FMR Boss FMR’s Jason Hincks<br />
Jet<br />
Greyhound<br />
Hats For The Races<br />
Greyhound Calendar Boy Winner<br />
Greyhound<br />
Jet<br />
Jet<br />
Jet<br />
Laird<br />
Market<br />
Market<br />
Market<br />
Market<br />
27
O u t I n M e l b o u r n e<br />
Michael Norman Peel Peel<br />
Peel Back Bar<br />
Pink -<br />
Amanda Monroe<br />
Peel<br />
Pink<br />
Rainbow Awards Launch<br />
Pink<br />
Peel Back Bar<br />
28<br />
Peel Back Bar<br />
Pink<br />
Pink -<br />
Miss Bunny<br />
Olivia Newton John
TV Review<br />
What Not<br />
A One Woman Trans-tastic<br />
Television Extravaganza<br />
– presented by Vanessa<br />
Wagner.<br />
A definite gap appeared in the variety<br />
television industry when Mike<br />
Walsh left the Nine Network. Bert<br />
Newton and Kerri-Anne Kennerley<br />
have only acted as pollyfiller up till<br />
now.<br />
T V R e v i e w<br />
Enter our community’s answer to<br />
Phyllis Dilla – Vanessa Wagner.<br />
“What Not” opens with a dance<br />
routine, and continues with all the<br />
segments you would expect from a<br />
variety show – a celebrity make over<br />
(transforming a typical Aussie bloke<br />
into ummm less of a bloke), a cooking<br />
segment, health with Nurse Nancy<br />
(who gauges how much pox is in<br />
the studio audience), news, views,<br />
and a fashion competition.<br />
Intersperse this with clever skits and Vanessa’s<br />
now famous quick wit, and you have a show that hits<br />
a definite 10 on the entertainment scale. Filmed in<br />
front of a live audience and made for Foxtel, “What<br />
Not” is some of the most off-beat and humorous<br />
television I have seen for a very long time.<br />
I have always been a Vanessa fan, and reviewing<br />
“What Not” has only acted to justify my admiration.<br />
Look for it in your Foxtel television viewing guide.<br />
29
P e o p l e<br />
30<br />
P e o p l e<br />
Adam Pickvance interview by Tim Hunter<br />
Adam Pickvance is currently the CEO for the<br />
ALSO Foundation, and has been now for two years.<br />
Before that, he was president for five years, and<br />
before that even, he was involved in the foundation<br />
of Team Melbourne and organising the Prahran<br />
Swimming Carnival as part of Midsumma. He’s<br />
what you could call a Professional Poof. He’s also<br />
35, Taurean, single and loving it!<br />
ALSO is best known for its dance parties and<br />
the ALSO Directory, but as Pickvance explains,<br />
their range of activities is much broader than that.<br />
“That was what we were known for, for a long time,<br />
and we’ve turned the corner from that, and ALSO is<br />
very much about being recognised for community<br />
service and projects and leadership within those<br />
areas. So what ALSO is focused on now is how we<br />
can actually, either directly, or in partnership with<br />
other organisations, deliver services, projects, research<br />
to the benefit of gay, lesbian, bisexual and<br />
transgendered people. And we’re well on the way<br />
to a lot of successes in that area”<br />
It’s a relatively new focus for ALSO, who since<br />
1981, were running dance parties, successfully<br />
raising money and giving it back to the community.<br />
“Without any government funding, we have given<br />
away over $1million cash to the gay and lesbian<br />
community. This is a relatively new thing for us, to<br />
be focused on how we do direct community service.<br />
So it’s really rewarding, and it’s absolutely<br />
needed.”<br />
Something else ALSO has been involved with<br />
is Victoria Police’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer<br />
program, something that Pickvance sees as<br />
incredibly important. ALSO was there right from<br />
the start, after a history of very bad operational<br />
stuff between the Victorian police and the gay and<br />
lesbian community. The Tasty raid is a classic example<br />
of that, but there was also harassment of<br />
men at beats. “Victoria Police were quite responsive<br />
in realising the need to turn a corner,” says<br />
Pickvance. “Tasty cost them a lot of money, and<br />
they took the initiative, and the very first gay and<br />
lesbian liaison officer was appointed. ALSO was<br />
one of those original organisations consulted about<br />
the officer.” That first officer was Melinda Edwards.<br />
Today there’s a Victorian Police Gay and Lesbian<br />
Police Reference Group, which includes senior<br />
ranking officers from the force, along with Melinda<br />
as the GLLO co-ordinator and other gay and lesbian<br />
community groups. As well, ALSO donated<br />
money to produce the GLLO badges, consultation,<br />
and has set up a public consultation relating to the<br />
review of the GLLO program.<br />
Pickvance also believes that maintaining this relationship<br />
is vital, beyond personalities. “Christine<br />
Nixon as a person has made a dramatic change to<br />
Victoria Police, and what we’re trying to do is make<br />
sure that the police stay on this track, regardless<br />
of who the personalities are, and to affect cultural<br />
change in a hierarchy like the police force is not<br />
something you can do in five years.<br />
“The other aspect to having a good relationship<br />
with the police is that anecdotally, there’s evidence<br />
that lots of gay and lesbian abuse remains unreported.<br />
That’s because many gay and lesbian<br />
people are still fearful of the reaction from the police.”<br />
Much of that has to do with the perception<br />
that if you’re at a beat and abused, you shouldn’t<br />
be there anyway, and reporting it could bring with it<br />
public embarrassment and rumouring, even within<br />
the GLBTI community. “Domestic violence is another<br />
classic example within our community that’s<br />
just not spoken about, but anecdotally, it’s a huge<br />
issue. How many same-sex couples are going to<br />
get the police to intervene and be comfortable<br />
enough to pursue it? There are lots of unique issues<br />
relating to gay men and lesbians that require<br />
specialist training and responses.”<br />
Of course, when talking about protection, human<br />
rights become incredibly important too. “There are<br />
issues we need to be cautious of in relation to policing<br />
and human rights,” says Pickvance. “One<br />
area of concern is surveillance – it’s often society’s<br />
way of dealing with a problem area is putting up<br />
cameras and watch them all day. Another one is<br />
the use of sniffer dogs, who find drugs on people. I<br />
have real concerns about that, particularly regarding<br />
gay men of the generation of Tasty, who quite<br />
legitimately could be very nervous about police<br />
and interacting with them in a recreational activity<br />
like clubbing. We do need to be vigilant about<br />
how these issues impact on broader human rights,<br />
but also how the police will access advice from the<br />
community about particular sensitivities that they<br />
should be aware of. We can’t tell the police how<br />
to do their job, but Victoria Police seem to be a lot<br />
more open to listening to the community and modify<br />
their practices, so they can still do their job with<br />
a minimal amount of harm and be more effective in<br />
the long term.”<br />
Overall though, Pickvance only has praise for all<br />
the police officers involved in the GLLO program.<br />
“The majority of them who put their hands up to be<br />
GLL officers are not gay or lesbian; they’re police<br />
officers who have seen they wanted to be involved<br />
in, and they’re exceptional people, and the program<br />
is benefited highly for having them around.”